Railway interlocking apparatus



J, P. COLEMAN Aug`. 25, 1931.

` RAILWAY INTERLOCKING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed sept. 21. 1929 v INVENTOR: UTP. C'a/ernan,

with usual and well known practice. This lever is journalled to oscillate through an angle of o around its longitudinal axis, oscillations being caused by a Amanually operable handle which is attached to the right-hand end of the lever but is not shown in the drawings. This lever co-acts with other levers in the machine through the medium of the usual mechanical .interlocking which is indicated at 3 in the drawings, and the lever is also provided with the usual electric lock 2 which, however, forms no part of my present invention.

A vertical shaft A is mounted in 1nearings 1 and 35 in the frame 1, and is operatively Connected with the lever L through the medium of mitre gears 11 and 12, whereby Vthe shaft A is oscillated through an angle of 60O in response to a full` movement of the lever L. This shaft A carries a roller 10A on which are mounted metal bands (not shown) which establish and interrupt contact with flat Contact springs suitably supported in an insulated plate carried by the machine frame l. These metal bands and contact springs are omitted from Fig. 1 Vto simplify the drawing; the contacts which are associated with this roller are designated 24A, 23A, etc., in the diagrammatic views of the accompanying drawings.

In accordance with the present invention, no restriction is imposed on the full operation of the lever L when a change in switch position is to be made. The lever is thrown fully from normal position to reverse position or vice versa to effect switch operation, and the lever governing the signa-ls which control traffic over the switch being thus mechanically released, may be operated before Vthe switch has fully responded or even without its response at all. Such a condition, however, will not result in a proceed signal being given when the switch does not properly respondY to its lever movement, because of the following further apparatus associated with the switch lever.

An auxiliary shaftB ismounted in bearings 5 and 6 in the machine frame 1, and is loosely coupled vwith the shaft A in such manner as to permit a partial movement of the lever L wit-hout mechanical interruption, but to prevent a complete movement of the lever unless the shaft B responds through the medium of apparatus which I will describe hereinafter. This lost motion coupling comprises a collar 7 attached to the lower end of shaft A and provided with a radially extending lug 72L from which a stud 8 projects downwardly. This stud lies between two arms 9a and 9F projecting radially from a collar 9, which is attached to the upper end of the shaft B. vWhen the lever L is in its normal position, the parts of this coupling occupy the relative positions in which they are shown in Fig. 2, from which it will be seen that the lever L and shaft A may be rotated counter-clockwise through an angle of about 300 before the stud 8 engages the arm 9b, whereupon if the shaft B then rotates in counter-clockwise d i r ec t i o n through an angle of about 30 the final motion of the shaft A through its second stage of 30o may be completed without mechanical interference by the shaft B. If the shaft B then responds to switch operation as hereinafter explained, by making its final motion of 80 in counter-cloclnvise direction, the parts will occupy the same relative positions as in Fig. 2, except that they will all be swung in counter-clockwise direction through an angle of 60.

The shaft B carries rollers 10B, and associated with these rollers are electrical contacts similar to those associated with roller 10A. These contacts are designated by the I reference character 25B in Fig. 5.

The shaft B is operated by a motor device which is illustrated at the lower end of Fig. 1, and also in Figs. 3 and l. Attachedtoy the lower end of shaft B is a crank 13, and pivotally' connected with this crank on opposite sides of the shaft B are two links 15, 15, which are inV turn pivotally connected with pistons 16 operating in two cylinders 14N and 14R. These cylinders and the devices associated with them are alike, and, consequently, only one of them is illustrated in section in Fig. 8. Referring to cylinder 14R, the piston'16 is of the trunk variety, in that it is pro-vided with a sleeve v86 which slides with the piston in the cylinder. Screwedinto the right-handend of the cylinder is a disk 17, andy sliding in this disk is a sleeve 18 on the outer end of which is a strap 18:L which limits the inward movement of the sleeve. The inner end of the sleeve 18 is providedwith a flange 18h, and between this flange and the disk 17 is coil spring 19 which biases the piston 16 to an intermediate lposition in which it is shown in Fig. '3. TWhen air pressure is admittedA to thec'ylinder lll `on the lefthand side of piston 16, this piston is moved outwardly, thereby compressing the spring 19 until the sleeve 36 engages the disk 17. On thel contrary, `the piston 16 may be moved to the left, from the position in which it is shown in the drawing, by the correspcnding link 15, the piston in this case moving away from the sleeve 18, thereby leaving the inner sleeve 18 and the spring 19 in the positions in which they are illustrated.

The supply of air pressure to the cylinders 14R and 14N is controlled by two valves VR and VN, which valves in turn are ."uitrolled by magnets MR and MN. Reteiii Y to Fig. t as well as Fig. 8, when magnet MN is deenergized, cylinder lat-N is connected with atmosphere through port 22 and exhaust port 2l. When this magnet is energized,V

.the magnet MN is energized, piston 'lo in cyl-- inder 14R is moved outwardly, therebj,T .swinging the shaft B to its reverse position.

Referring now to Fig. 8, the reference character F designates a. railway switch which is operated by a switch mechanism E of the electropneumatic type, comprisino` a normal magnet N, a reverse magnet B, a lock magnet L. Tralic in one direction over this switch is governed by signal Referring to Fig. 5, the elements at the right-hand end of this View are associated with the interlocking machine, whereas' the elements at the left-hand end of the view are associated with the switch mecharism E of Fig. 8. The dash line A repre: "s the shaft A of the interlocking machine lever L, and the contacts 2=-l^, 40A, and 23A are operated by the roller on this shaft. The dash line B represents the shaft B of Fig. l, and the contacts 25B are operated by the roller on this shaft.

Vith the circuits in the conditions in which they are shown in Fig. 5, the shafts A and B are both in their full normal positions, shaft B being held in this position because indication magnet MN is energized by virtue of a circuit which passes from the lower terminal of battery H, through line wire 38, contact 25 operated by switch mechanism E, wire 43, magnet MN, contact 24A, rectifier C2, wire 4l, contact 27, and line wire 39 to the upper terminal of battery H. The switch F is held in its normal position, because the normal magnet N is energized, the circuit being from the lower terminal of battery yH, through the lower arm of pole-changer 23A, line wire fil, rectiiier C3, magnet N, wire 42, and the upper arm of pole-changer 23A to the upper terminal of battery H.

Each rectifier C shown in this view is an asymmetric unit, that is, a unit which permits current to flow freely in the direction indicated by the arrow, but prevents the flow of any substantial amount of current in the opposite direction.

I. will now assume that the operator desires to move switch F to its reverse position. To do this, he will swing lever L lto its reverse position. During the first portion of this movement of lever L, contact 24A will be opened, thereby opening the circuit just traced for indication magnet MN, with the result that shaft B will immediately move to its middle position. This will permit the full and uninterrupted motion of lever L to its reverse position, and when it reaches this position, pole-changer 23A will be reversed. lower terminal of battery H, through the lower arm of pole-changer 23A, wire 4t2, reverse magnet R, rectifier C4, wire Ll1 and the upper arm ofpole-changer 23A to battery H. Current will also iiow from the lower terminal of battery H through the lower arm of pole-changer 23A, wire 42, loch magnet L, contact 28, rectifier C, wirefll, and the upper arm of pole-changer 23A to battery H. Magnets B and L being energized, the switch. mechanism E will be operated to move the switch to its reverse position. When the mechanism reaches its full reverse position, Contact 28 will reverse, thereby opening the above-traced circuit for lock magnet L and connecting this loch .magnet with a rectifier C5 which is interposed in the circuit in such direction as to prevent energization of the lock magnet by current of reverse polarity from battery H. Also, upon completion of the operation of the switch mechanism E, contacts 2G and 27 will' be reversed, whereupon indication magnet MR will become energized by virtue of the following circuit; from the lower terminal of battery H, through wire 88, Contact 2G, wire al, magnet MR, contact 40N (which will then be reversed), rectifier C1, wire s3, contact 27 and wire 89 to the Lipper terminal of battery H. Magnet MR being energized, the shaft B will be swung to its full reverse position.

The reference character L1 in Fig. 5, represents diagrammatically a signal controlling lever in the interlocking machine frame l of Fig. l. Normally, this lever occupies its middle position, but when released by the mechanical interlocking bed 3, it may be moved in either direction from its middle position to close the circuits for signals governing traffic over the switch F. Interposed in the circuits for these signals are contacts 25B operated .by the shaft B of Fig. 1. Certain of these contacts are'closed when the shaft is in its normal position, and other contacts are closed when the shaft is in its reverse position, but all contacts are open when the shaft is in its intermediate position. It' follows that when thev shaft moves to its intermediate position in response to the first portion of the movement of lever L, the circuits for all signals governing traffic over the switch F will be opened at contacts 25B, and none of these circuits can be closed until shaft B completes its movement Current will then flow from the les to normal or reverse position in response to switch operation. It will furthermore be seen that unless the shaft B moves to its middle position in response to the preliminary portion of the movement of lever L, the movement of lever L'cannct be completed, because the stud 8 will engage with one of the armsl 9:L or 9b on the shaft B and will thereby mechanically prevent a sufficientmovement of the lever to cause operation of. the switch, i

Referrin now to Fig. G, l have here shown a modified arrangement of the circuits for controlling the indication magnets MR and MN. Then the lever ant the switch'are both in normal positions, magnet MN is energized by a lcircuit which passes from battery H, through contact 26, wire 43, magnet MN, contact 45A, normal contact 30 of a polarized relay D, winding 29 of this relay, wire 44, and Contact 27 to battery H. lVhen the lever L is reversed, contacts 32A and45^ associated with the shaft A of this lever, will be reversed, thereby opening the circuit just traced for magnet MN, with 'the result that shaft B will move to its middle position. After the movement of the switch mechanism is completed, contacts 26 and 27 will reverse, whereupon relay D will become energized by current of reverse polarity, the circuit being from battery H, through contact 26, wire 44, winding 29 of relay D, contact 30 of this relay, contact 45A, wire 43 and contact 27 to battery H. This current of reverse polarity will cause polar contact 30 'to reverse, whereupon magnet h R will become energized, the circuit being from battery H, through contact 26, wire 44, winding` 29 and contact 30 of relay D, contact 32A, magnet MR, wire 43 and contact 27 to battery H. Then lever L is returned to its normal position, contacts 32A and 45A will be restored to their normal positions, and as soon as contacts 26 and 27 return to their normal positions relay D will again become energized in the normal direction, thereby restoring contact 30 to its normal position, with the result that magnet MN will aga-in become energized. n

Referring now to Fig. 7, I have in this view shown means for replacing the rectifiers C of Fig. by a polarized relay D1 which similar to relay D shown in Fig. 6. lllhcn the switch lever L is in its normal position, so that pole-changer 23A is in its normal position, current flows from battery H, through the lower arm of pole-changer 23A, wire 4l, winding 29 of rela-yDl, normal magnet N, Contact of relay D1, wire 424 and the upper arm of pole-changer 23A to battery H. Reverse magnet R `and lock magnet L are bothdeenergized under this condition. Then lever L is reversed, polechanger 23A will become reversed, whereupon current of reverse vpolarity will be supplied to winding 29 of relay D1, through the circuit which I have just traced, with the result that .polar armature 30 of this relay will swing to its reverse position. Reverse magnet R will then be energized, the circuit being from battery H, .through the upper arm of pole-changer 23A, wire 4l, relay winding 29, reverse magnet R, relay contact 30, wire 42 and the iower arm of pole-changer 23A to battery H. vLock magnetA L will be energized at the same time, the circuit being from battery H, through the upper arm of pole-changer 23A, wire 41, magnet L, switch mechanism contact 33, relay Contact 30, wire 42, and the lower arm'of pole-changer 23A to battery H. When the switch mechanism reaches its full reverserposition,contacts 33 and 34 will reverse, thereby opening the circuit just traced for magnet L. When the lever L is restored to its normal position, pole-changer 23A will return to its normal position, thereby supplying current of normal polarity to the winding ofrelay D1, through the reverse magnet R. Contact 30 of relay D1 will then return to its normal position, whereupon normal magnet N will again be energized and lock magnet L will also be energized through contact 34 of the switch mechanism. When the switch mechanism returns to its full normal position contacts 38 and 34 will be restored to the positions in which they are shown in the drawing, so that lock magnet L will again become cle-energized. y

Although I have herein shown and described only a few forms of apparatus embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. i

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. In combination, a manually operable interlocking machine lever, a railway traffic governing device responsive to complete operations of said lever, a circuit controller comprising a roller associated with said lever, means responsive to a partial operation of said lever for shifting said roller to an intermediate position, means for preventing complete operation of said lever` unless said roller responds to the partial operation, means responsive to a movement of said traiiic governing device for completing the movement of said roller, and means for controlling another traffic governing device by said circuit controller.

2. In combination, a manually operable interlocking machine lever, a railway trafiic governing device responsive to complete operations of said lever, a circuit controller Vcomprising a roller associated with said lever, a motor device for moving said roller, means responsive to a partial operatlon of readme" said lever for controlling said motor device to shift said roller to an intermediate position, means for preventing complete operation of said lever unless said roller shifts to its intermediate position in response to the partial movement of the lever, means responsive to a movement of said traflic governing device for controlling said motor device to shift said roller to its final position, and means for controlling another' traiiic governing device'by said circuit controller.

3. In combination, a manually operable interlocking machine lever, a railway switch responsive only to complete operations ot said lever, a circuit controller' associated with said lever', means responsive to a partial operation of said lever for shifting sai-d circuit controller to an intermediate position, means for preventing complete operation of said lever unless said circuit controller responds to the partial operation, means responsive to a movement oi said switch for completing` the lmovement of' said circuit controller, and means 'for preventing the clearing of a signal governing tra'flic over said switch while said circuit controller is in its intermediate position.

4l. In combination, a manually operable interlocking machine lever, a railway trailic governing device controlled by said lever, a circuit controller comprising a roller associated with said lever, a motor device Jfor moving said roller, means tor controlling said motor device ljointly by said lever and by said traiiic governing device, a second traflic governing device controlled in part by said circuit controller, and means for controlling said lever by said roller.

5. In combination, an interlocking machine lever manuallyT movable to normal and reverse positions, a railway switch, means for causing operations of said switch to normal and reverse positions in response to movements of said lever to iiull normal and reverse positions, a roller associated with said lever and having normal and reverse positions corresponding to the normal and reverse positions of the lever, a motor device comprising a normal and a reverse magnet for moving said roller to normal ory reverse position according as the normal or the reverse magnet is energized and for holding the roller in an intermediate position when both magnets are deenergized, means responsive to a preliminary movement of said lever from either normal or reverse position for oeenergizing both of said magnets, means responsive to operation of said switch ior energizing the correspond .ing one ot magnets thereby completing the corresponding movement of said roller, means tor preventing the clearirg of a signal governing tramo over said switch unless said roller has completed its movement in response to operation of the switch, and a lost motion coupling between said lever and said roller for permitting the aforesaid preliminary movement of said lever but pire: venting a complete movement of thel lever unless the roller moves to its intermediate position in response to preliminary movement of the lover.

In combination,- aii iiitenloc'lt'ing niachine lever manually movable to normal and reverse positions, a railway switch, means for causing operations .of said switch :to nor-mal and reverse positions in response lto movements of said .lever to full normal and reverse positions, a roller associated with said Vlever and vhaving normal and reverse positions corresponding to the .normal and reverse positions of the lever, means for bias- Y ing said lroller to an intermediate position, a normal and a reverse indication magnet, a vfluid pressure motor for moving said roller to .its normal position when said normal magnet is energized, karsecond fluid pressure motor for moving said ,roller .to its reverse position when said .reverse magnet is lenergized, means responsive to a preliminary movement of said :lever from either normal or reverse position for deenergizing yboth of said magnets, means responsive to operation of said switch forfenergizing the corresponding one .of said magnets thereby completing the corresponding movement of vsaid roller, means for .preventing the clearing of a sig'- nal governing trailic over said switch unless said roller has completed its movement 1in response to operationiof the switch, :and a lost motioncoupling between said leverand said roller for permitting the aforesaid {preliminary movement of said lever =but preventing a complete movement of the lever' unless the roller moves to its kintermediate position in response to preliminary movement of the lever.

7 In combination, a .railway switch, a manually operablelever -for controlling said switch, anormal and a reverse yincili'cation magnet for the controlof saidlever, anindication circuit including said normal magnet and a rectifier .connected to allow current of normal polarity to pass through the magnet, a branch for said circuit around said normal magnet and including said reverse magnet as well as a rectiiier connected to allow current of reverse polarity to pass through the reverse magnet, and means controlled by said switch for supplying current of normal or reverse polarity to said indication circuit according as the switch is in normal or reverse position. A

8. In combination, a railway switch operating mechanism having a normal magnet and a reverse magnet, a polarized relay, a circuit for the winding of said relay, means controlled by the contacts of said relay for connecting said normal or said reverse magnet in said circuit in series with the relay G asado/ie Windingaccording as the circuit is supplied with current of .normal or reverse polarity, and means including` a manually operable switch controlling lever iior supplying current of normal or reverse polarity to said circuit.

9. In combination, a railway switch operating mechanism having anormal magnet and a reverse magnet as Well as a lock magnet, a polarized relay, a. circuit for the Winding of said relay, means controlled by the contacts of said relay for connecting said normal or said reverse magnet in said circuit in series with the relay Winding according` as the circuit is supplied with current of normal or reverse polarity, vneans controlled Vjointly by said switch mechanism and by said polarized relay tor connecting` said lock magnet in said circuit in multiple with therelay Winding` and the normal or reverse magna;y Whenever the mechanism and the relay do not harmonize in positions, and means including` a manually operable switch controlling,` lever for supplying current of normal or reverse polarity to said circuit.

l0. In combination, a railway switch mechanism, ar manually operable lever for controlling' said mechanism, a normal and a reverse indication magnet for the control of 3@ said lever, a polarized relay, a circuii` for the Winding of said relay having a plurality of branches, one branch including` a normal Contact ot the relay and a reverse contact on said lever, another branch including gli' a reverse contact of the relay and a normal Contact on the lever, a third branch for said circuit including said normal magnet and a normal lever Contact as Well as a normal Contact of said relay, a fourth branch for said circuit including said reverse magnet and a reverse lever con-tact as well as a reverse contact of said relay, and means controlled by said'switch mechanism for supplying current of normal or reverse polarity if to said circuit accordirngT as the switch is in normal or reverse position.

In testimony whereof l alii); my signature.

JOHN r. COLEMAN. 

